4 CRISIS ASSISTANCE

Eligibility - 2604(c), 2605(c)(1)(A) 4.1 Designate the income eligibility threshold used for the crisis component Add Household size Eligibility Guideline Eligibility Threshold 1 All Household Sizes State Median Income 60.00% 4.2 Provide your LIHEAP program's definition for determining a crisis. If you administer multiple crisis assistance programs (winter, summer, and/or year-round), Include all program definitions. Explanation of FastTrack System The crisis intervention component of Massachusetts’ HEAP is a FastTrack system, integrated into the heating assistance program, for prioritizing and expediting services to households experiencing heating emergencies. The purpose of this FastTrack system is to provide swift response to heating emergencies, while steering applicants into the mainstream heating assistance component with full benefits. Emergency applications are given priority at all intake and processing steps. When an applicant notifies the Subgrantee of their emergency, the Subgrantee reviews the application and requests any documentation still required to complete the application. The emergency application is given certification priority. If eligible, the vendor will be authorized to make a delivery or guaranteed a payment in cases of eviction or utility disconnection. Heat-Related Crisis Subgrantees are required to provide for emergency response within 24 hours or 18 hours of the eligible household’s application or request, in accordance with the statute and corresponding procedures outlined in the current fiscal year's Administrative Guidance. The criteria for designating an emergency are as follows: No heat for any reason • Imminent Loss of heat due to: Less than a 3-day supply of deliverable fuel or a reading of 1/8 of a tank (or less) on a standard 275-gallon oil tank. • Receipt of a final utility termination notice for the primary heat source or the secondary heat source necessary to operate the primary heating system. • Eviction within 72 hours for a renter whose heat is included in the rent. • • Heating system failure. • The aftermath of fire or other unforeseen events that may force relocation. • Other circumstances in accordance with the statute, which are deemed to be “household energy related emergencies” and cannot be resolved by other public or private resources of the Subgrantee or its community. This includes payments toward a utility security deposit for an Applicant whose service is provided by a Municipal Utility Company that requires a deposit prior to connection of services. 4.3 What constitutes a life-threatening crisis? Subgrantees are required to provide for emergency response within 18 hours of the eligible household’s application or request for those experiencing a life-threatening crisis, in accordance with the statute and corresponding procedures outlined in the current fiscal year's Administrative Guidance. A life-threatening crisis is currently having no heat, and it includes ran out of deliverable fuel • utilities disconnected • the aftermath of a fire or other unforeseen events that may force relocation or • or heating system failure. • Crisis Requirement, 2604(c) 4.4 Within how many hours do you provide an intervention that will resolve the energy crisis for eligible households? 24Hours 4.5 Within how many hours do you provide an intervention that will resolve the energy crisis for eligible households in life-threatening situations? 18Hours Crisis Eligibility, 2605(c)(1)(A) Winter Crisis Summer Crisis Year-Round Crisis 4.6 Do you have additional eligibility requirements for Crisis Assistance? 4.7 Check the appropriate boxes below to indicate type(s) of assistance provided 0 Do you require an Assets test? Do you give priority in eligibility to: Older Adults (60 years or older)? Individuals with a disability? Young Children? Households with high energy burdens? Other (Specify): In Order to receive crisis assistance: Must the household have received a shut-off notice or have a near empty tank? Must the household have been shut off or have an empty tank? Must the household have exhausted their regular heating benefit? Must renters with heating costs included in their rent have received an eviction notice? Must heating/cooling be medically necessary? Must the household have non-working heating or cooling equipment? Other (Specify): Do you have additional/differing eligibility policies for: Renters? Renters living in subsidized housing? Renters with utilities included in the rent? Explanations of policies for each "yes" checked above: See 4.2 above. Determination of Benefits 4.8 How do you handle crisis situations? Separate component Benefit Fast Track, no separate amount of crisis funds is issued. Rather benefits are issued to crisis customers within crisis response time frames. Other - Describe: 4.9 If you have a separate component, how do you determine crisis assistance benefits? Amount to resolve the crisis. $0 Other - Describe: Crisis Requirements, 2604(c) 4.10 Do you accept applications for energy crisis assistance at sites that are geographically accessible to all households in the area to be served? Yes No Explain. This is accomplished through the volunteer agency and Subgrantee network, which includes but is not limited to, local Councils on Aging, local Veteran Agents, and various nonprofit partners. If a household is homebound or remotely located, Subgrantee staff are authorized to travel to such a household. Additionally, the Applicants may designate a proxy to complete the application process on their behalf. Further, households experiencing emergencies may apply through the HEAP application portal or telephonically with their Subgrantee. 4.11 Do you provide individuals who are individuals with a disability the means to: Submit applications for crisis benefits without leaving their homes? Yes No If No, explain. Travel to the sites at which applications for crisis assistance are accepted? Yes No If No, explain. If you answered "No" to both options in question 4.11, please explain alternative means of intake to those who are homebound or physically disabled? Benefit Levels, 2605(c)(1)(B) 4.12 Indicate the maximum benefit for each type of crisis assistance offered. Winter Crisis $600.00 maximum benefit Summer Crisis $0.00 maximum benefit Year-round Crisis $0.00 maximum benefit 4.13 Do you provide in-kind (e.g. blankets, space heaters, fans) and/or other forms of benefits? Yes No If yes, Describe 4.14 Do you provide for equipment repair or replacement using crisis funds? Yes No If you answered "Yes" to question 4.14, you must complete question 4.15. 4.15 Check appropriate boxes below to indicate type(s) of assistance provided. Winter Crisis Summer Crisis Year-round Crisis Heating system repair Heating system replacement Cooling system repair Cooling system replacement Wood stove purchase Pellet stove purchase Solar panel(s) Utility poles / gas line hook-ups Other (Specify): 4.16 Do any of the utility vendors you work with enforce a moratorium on shut offs? Yes No If you responded "Yes" to question 4.16, you must respond to question 4.17. 4.17 Describe the terms of the moratorium and any special dispensation received by LIHEAP clients during or after the moratorium period. From November 15 to March 15, Massachusetts law prevents gas and electric companies from shutting off a customer’s home energy sources because of their inability to pay for it and who also has proven a financial hardship. Also, service that is needed to run a customer’s residential heating system cannot be shut off during this period. Charges continue to be applied during this period and the customer still owes the utility company for the provided service. The moratorium does not apply to debt accrued before November 15. In addition to the winter moratorium, Massachusetts provides some additional protections from utility shutoffs for those who qualify. 4.18 If you experience a natural disaster, do you intend to utilize LIHEAP crisis funds to address disaster related crisis situations? Yes No If yes, describe If any of the above questions require further explanation or clarification that could not be made in the fields provided, attach a document with said explanation here.